HALF of Scots over the age of 50 struggle to see their GP on the same day they fall ill, according to a poll.
More than 9,000 people across the UK were asked about their experiences of an essential service and many found it lacking.
One in three said they also find it hard to book an appointment to see their GP in advance, with those aged 50 to 59 struggling the most to book an appointment either in advance or on the same day.
The poll comes after a survey of almost one million patients found most people have no interest in their GP surgery opening at weekends.
The research showed that 81 per cent of patients do not find current GP opening times inconvenient.
Just 15 per cent said weekend opening would make it easier for them to see a doctor, while only two per cent said they would be able to attend Sunday appointments.
When those patients who said they were interested in weekend opening were asked to rate their preferences, 74 per cent preferred a Saturday opening.
The research team from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the University of Oxford, used data from the national 2014 General Practice Patient Survey.
It is claimed the situation in Scotland is comparable. Dr Jean Turner, of the Scotland Patients’ Association, has said previously that “there is no doubt that trying to get an appointment with a doctor is becoming harder”.
She said: “I understand why most Scottish people think there are too few GPs and that they don’t get enough time with their doctor.
“The stresses and strains of general practice are constant: looking out for people on a daily asis and hoping to not miss anything is difficult because you’re working on something close to a conveyor belt.
“It’s only experience that helps you to cope with that pressure a little bit better, but even that experience makes you realise that you might still be missing things.”
The poll, by Saga Health Insurance, found a number of variations in regions in Scotland but also echoed Ms Turner’s concerns.
Kevin McMullan, senior manager of health insurance at Saga, said: “The last thing people want to do when they feel under the weather is battle to see their GP.
“We need to be encouraging these people to visit their GP rather than put more barriers in the way so that they can get better as soon as possible and carry on with their normal everyday life.”
Dr Turner added: “We also know there are patients who just give up trying to get an appointment because it’s too difficult.
“Either that person goes to accident and emergency, which pushes the problem on to another part of the system, or they allow their condition to deteriorate for a couple of weeks more before trying again.”
She said: “The nature of healthcare today means that people who go into hospital are being sent back out into the community far quicker than they would previously.
“This means these patients have to rely on the local practice for follow-up care or referral, and the government has not provided the wherewithal to put additional people into these services to cope with this extra pressure.”
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